NRL 2 years ago

Looking to boost our back row.

There was a massive sense of disappointment last week when we lost to the Cronulla Sharks, but there are a few questions to answer in regards to our season. I feel a little bit bombed out about how we left the competition, but when you think of the circumstances it shouldn’t really surprise anyone. South Sydney had a year coming off the back of a Premiership and it looked so promising. It wasn’t to be due to injuries and suspensions plaguing our season.

This season was quite average by our standards. It didn’t help that we lost Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o to Rugby Union. To be honest with the signings we made nothing could compare to those two. Tim Grant and Glenn Stewart were the men to replace these big game players and if you had to ask for my opinion come seasons end, it wasn’t what we needed. Tim played more of a bash and barge type role and didn’t offer much when it came to playing freely out wide. Madge tried to put Grant in the lock position, but I don’t believe he was very strong there. He played in the prop position for NSW and this is somewhere that I thought he would play for the year. Madge tried him in numerous positions in the back row and in the forwards, but he really couldn’t get grounded with familiarity.

Glenn Stewart is the type of big name player you’d suggest that could fill the shoes of Sam Burgess quite easily, but it didn’t go all to plan. I thought signing Glenn would be fantastic not just for the full 80 minutes, but also to teach the younger more inexperience players how to make a good fist of playing Rugby League. Unfortunately for the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs, Glenn was continuously injured and couldn’t quite get a grasp of playing in a new team. I will give it to him that when he did play, he managed to create a bit and offered his two cents worth in attack. I always had a sneaking suspicion that he wasn’t wht we needed. I personally don’t believe we got value for money. It’s hard enough as it is to come from an old team, but to change your style of play to suit the new team is the biggest challenge. Glenn was playing more like a ball runner rather than a player who is used to creating on the edges.

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With Glenn Stewart moving on and Tim Grant set to join the Eels next season, the question remains as to who South Sydney will bring in for next season. I like the sound of Martin Taupau, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the story is. These days you need a big pack and Taupau will certainly add that if we can land the big backrower.